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Difference between revisions of "Romans 6:1,2"

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==Romans 6:1,2 ==
  
 
<p>What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1,2) </p>
 
<p>What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1,2) </p>
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<p>This is what is taught today. "We died to sin." Our sins, past, present, and future were forgiven on the cross of Calvary. How can we be charged with sin? We have been accepted in the Beloved. God has pronounced "righteous." That is the end of it. </p>
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<p>It seems to me that Romans 6:1,2 are not being understood as Paul meant them to be. I think a correct understanding of these two verses will go a long way toward increasing the moral strength of the Christian churches. </p>
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<p>Given this interpretation, that sin no longer can affect our salvation, given the demonic environment in which we are attempting to survive, given the lusts and passions of our flesh and soul, you can be certain the believers are going to continue in sin. </p>
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<p>In the text that precedes Romans 6:1,2 Paul argues vehemently against our attempting to gain righteousness by works. By works, Paul was referring to the works of the Law of Moses. </p>
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<p>We do not want to sin. We want to be like Jesus. We want to please Jesus. We desire to prove our love for Him by living righteously. And then we are seduced into sinning. </p>
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<p>Somehow, even at that early date, some teachers were arguing (whether sincerely or mockingly) that if God's grace is excusing our sin, we should keep sinning so God will have the opportunity to show more grace. </p>
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<p>Christ gave us commandments. His Apostles gave us commandments. But the main purpose of the commandments of the New Testament is to show us we need to be forgiven by God's grace. This is the wretchedness that is preached today—a wretchedness that makes the Word of God a welter of confusion. </p>
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<p>What religious people will do to avoid living righteously, what arguments they will employ, is a never-ending source of amazement! </p>
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<p>Of course we are to keep the commandments written in the New Testament! The Holy Spirit will assist us. </p>
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<p>"Shall we go on sinning?" How ridiculous, when Paul stood so strongly for righteous, holy behavior. Yet, is there an element of this question in today's Christian emphasis on grace? </p>
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<p>If ever there was a doctrine designed to destroy the Christian people, it is the interpretation of "we died to sin" to mean we are righteous no matter how we behave because we have been saved by grace and not by works of righteousness we have done (to quote Paul in another passage). </p>
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<p>Given the preaching and teaching of our time, one would expect Paul's answer to be, "We know we shouldn't go on sinning; but as long as we are in this world we have to sin. So if we should sin, Divine grace will bring us to Heaven anyway." </p>
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<p>I guess if we want to make an excuse for our sinning, we can find that excuse in the Bible. Isn't that a fact? </p>
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<p>Such is today's answer. It is enough to make Paul turn over in his grave. </p>
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<p>But let's look at how the meaning of "we died to sin" works out as Paul's argument develops. If we are to understand any part of Chapters Six through Eight of the Book of Romans, we have to view the three chapters as one whole. </p>
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<p>What did Paul say to the question shall we go on sinning? "By no means!" "God forbid such a conclusion from my efforts to turn people from Moses to Christ!" </p>
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<p>In order to understand the Apostle Paul, it is helpful to keep two thoughts in mind. First, Paul was arguing against teachers who were pressing the need to keep the Law of Moses. "It is fine to accept Jesus Christ as the Christ, but we must keep the Law of Moses if we are to be righteous in the sight of God," they were maintaining. </p>
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<p>I wonder if we can catch the vehemence in Paul's response. I wonder if we of today would respond with the same vehemence. </p>
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<p>Paul was not saying we are free from the Law of Moses so we will not be bound by Divine law. Paul taught that we are under a far stricter covenant, in which our body is to be presented to God as a living sacrifice. We are free from Moses so we may be married to Christ. Marriage to Christ is a total covenant, bringing with it demands on our conduct far, far exceed the demands of the Law of Moses. </p>
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<p>"We died to sin! How can we live in it any longer?" </p>
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<p>Second, Paul's goal was the redemption of his body. By this I mean in the Day of Resurrection Paul's body will be raised from the dead and then filled with eternal resurrection life. Paul viewed the redemption of his body as his adoption as a son of God. </p>
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<p>Our ability to understand all of Paul's epistles hangs on our understanding of four words: "We died to sin." </p>
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<p>To be continued. [[Romans 6:1,2. 3]]</p>
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<p>"We died to sin." What does this mean? </p>
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<p>A former holiness movement concluded that there was an experience in which we died to sin, meaning the sinful nature was removed from us root and branch. It no longer was possible for us to sin. There were no compulsions to sin left in us. </p>
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<p>I don't think this point of view has gained many followers. No matter how overwhelming a spiritual experience we have, after it is over there are those sins that other people can see—whether or not we are aware of them. </p>
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<p>A second interpretation of "we died to sin" is the one that prevails today. The idea is that after we receive Christ we are to count ourselves dead to sin. Sin no longer is an issue. We can't sin in the sense that God sees us through Christ. </p>
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<p>When we lie, God sees the truth of Christ. When we commit adultery, God sees the moral purity of Christ. God has saved us by a sovereign, Divine election. We ought to try to do good, but our behavior is not critical. It is God's sovereign salvation that is the only determining issue. </p>
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<p>To be continued. [[Romans 6:1,2. 2]]</p>
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[[Category:Bible]]

Revision as of 00:37, 29 November 2018

Romans 6:1,2

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1,2)

It seems to me that Romans 6:1,2 are not being understood as Paul meant them to be. I think a correct understanding of these two verses will go a long way toward increasing the moral strength of the Christian churches.

In the text that precedes Romans 6:1,2 Paul argues vehemently against our attempting to gain righteousness by works. By works, Paul was referring to the works of the Law of Moses.

Somehow, even at that early date, some teachers were arguing (whether sincerely or mockingly) that if God's grace is excusing our sin, we should keep sinning so God will have the opportunity to show more grace.

What religious people will do to avoid living righteously, what arguments they will employ, is a never-ending source of amazement!

"Shall we go on sinning?" How ridiculous, when Paul stood so strongly for righteous, holy behavior. Yet, is there an element of this question in today's Christian emphasis on grace?

Given the preaching and teaching of our time, one would expect Paul's answer to be, "We know we shouldn't go on sinning; but as long as we are in this world we have to sin. So if we should sin, Divine grace will bring us to Heaven anyway."

Such is today's answer. It is enough to make Paul turn over in his grave.

What did Paul say to the question shall we go on sinning? "By no means!" "God forbid such a conclusion from my efforts to turn people from Moses to Christ!"

I wonder if we can catch the vehemence in Paul's response. I wonder if we of today would respond with the same vehemence.

"We died to sin! How can we live in it any longer?"

Our ability to understand all of Paul's epistles hangs on our understanding of four words: "We died to sin."

"We died to sin." What does this mean?

A former holiness movement concluded that there was an experience in which we died to sin, meaning the sinful nature was removed from us root and branch. It no longer was possible for us to sin. There were no compulsions to sin left in us.

I don't think this point of view has gained many followers. No matter how overwhelming a spiritual experience we have, after it is over there are those sins that other people can see—whether or not we are aware of them.

A second interpretation of "we died to sin" is the one that prevails today. The idea is that after we receive Christ we are to count ourselves dead to sin. Sin no longer is an issue. We can't sin in the sense that God sees us through Christ.

When we lie, God sees the truth of Christ. When we commit adultery, God sees the moral purity of Christ. God has saved us by a sovereign, Divine election. We ought to try to do good, but our behavior is not critical. It is God's sovereign salvation that is the only determining issue.

To be continued. Romans 6:1,2. 2

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